Shagari Alleyne has a sense of humor much like that of former St. Raymond’s star Julius Hodge. Now he just hopes to have as much success as Hodge has had in college.

“I’m going to the NBA,” the 7-foot-2 Rice senior deadpanned to open his press conference yesterday at the Harlem school. He was kidding, just like Hodge was. Instead, Alleyne will head to Rutgers, selecting the Scarlet Knights over Kentucky.

“I think Rutgers is an up-and-coming team,” said Alleyne, who also made official visits to Pepperdine and Louisville. “Many people don’t believe me now, but they’re going to be pretty successful.”

Alleyne, named to the Post’s All-CHSAA first team averaged 14 points per game and five blocks as a junior. After starting the season slowly, often finding himself on the bench during late-game situations, he improved and showed flashes of brilliance. He was never better than in last year’s CHSAA championship win over All Hallows, when Alleyne went 12-for-12 from the floor.

Alleyne is trying to meet NCAA guidelines so that he can play as a freshman; he still needs the qualifying SAT score.